Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee Joshua Smith openly remarked on resigning over social media this past weekend, quickly prompting discussion that he had already stepped down from party leadership. However, Smith denies he’s actively resigning and says he has not yet made definitive plans.
In a Saturday evening Twitter conversation discussing the recent Libertarian Party of New Hampshire state convention, Smith noted that after six years of Libertarian activism, he thought it was time to retire. “I first started running for Chairman of the LNC in 2017,” Smith wrote. “My goal was to punt the Overton window as far away from whatever it was they were doing before as I could. I feel like 6 years later, my work here is done. Truly. I think it’s time to retire.”
Responding to supporters and critics alike, Smith initially expressed interest in stepping back to focus on his family and felt he would be leaving the party in good hands. “I’m not an island anymore,” Smith said to one supporter. “There are so many like you. Good people, who care about having this party in good hands. I’m not really needed anymore.”
Discussion on Libertarian social media surrounding Smith’s interest in resigning quickly spread. However, in a conversation with Independent Political Report, Smith pushed back against his perceived resignation. “It was mostly just public musings and reflections on the party, movement, and my past involvement,” Smith said in a Monday afternoon email. “It’s definitely something I am mulling over though. If I come to some kind of decision, I will surely make it known in more surety.”
Smith, who has served as a member of the Libertarian National Committee since 2017, was elected Vice Chair at the 2022 Libertarian National Convention in Reno, Nevada. Previously, Smith ran for the position of Chair on two occasions. Outside of his involvement with the Libertarian National Committee, Smith is also an active supporter of the Mises Caucus and hosts a podcast called Break the Cycle with Joshua Smith.
If Joshua Smith does decide to resign, he would be the second member of the Libertarian National Committee to do so this year. Connor Nepomuceno, who formally represented LNC Region 3 as an alternate member, resigned earlier this month.
1/30/2023 6:26PM Eastern: Writing on Twitter, Smith indicates that he has not resigned from the LNC.